Danbury High cheerleaders win national title

Twelve Danbury High School girls danced, jumped and tumbled their way to the first national cheerleading title in the school's recent history.

The team won the Canadian-American National championship at Myrtle Beach, N.C., on Sunday after competing for two days against 10 other teams.
The team led after the first day.
It was the first time the high school team went to this competition. Teams qualify at regionals or by submitting videos if there are no regionals near them. The Danbury girls qualified by video.
"On the first day, we had a perfect performance,"

Samantha Ballas
said Monday. "On the second day, we were a little nervous but we still stuck everything."
Seniors Ballas,
Carolyn Marra
, both 17, and
Caitlin Delohery
, 18, are three captains of the team. They've all been on the team for four years.
"It's a dream come true. None of us ever had a national title and it's our senior year," Ballas said. "I'm still in shock. It was teamwork. We worked hard together. It was definitely teamwork."
The team won the small varsity division for high school girls in their final competition of the year.
Coach Pudgie Delohery, who's been coaching the team for three years, said the team's level of athleticism, showmanship and spirit were key to their success.
"There are a lot of elements and every element they brought with them," Delohery said Monday. "They went into Sunday in first place and it was make it or break it."
Delohery's daughter, Caitlin, said the team has a two-minute, 30-second routine that includes tumbling, cheering, dancing and jumping.
"I think you could give us any routine and we could pull it off though. We're determined. We're a strong team all around," she said. "It was unbelievable. It's the best way we could go out."
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Eileen FitzGerald
at eileenf@newstimes.com
or at (203) 731-3333.
Danbury High School cheerleading team
Winners of the 2009 Canadian-American National Championship
Small, varsity high school girls title